Posted by Pete Nelson on Thursday, 19 July 2012, at 11:08 a.m., in response to Re: Springfield M1873 ID Help, posted by Ernie on Wednesday, 18 July 2012, at 11:26 p.m.

O.K., "son" - - - I already checked out S/N 56146 for Stephen in my 4-Volume set of SRS "Serial Numbers of U.S. Martial Arms" and found the following:

VOLUME-1:

Only one (1) single Trapdoor Rifle in the 56000-series, and that is 56603, a Model 1884R Service with an "1898" Date-of-Record.

VOLUME-2:

Only a total of six (6) Trapdoor Rifles, all Model 1884R Service Rifles. S/N 56580 associated with COMPANY-G, 2ND ILLINOIS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY (report as having been "DAMAGED"). The other five (5) were listed as "WWII DONATIONS TO THE U.S. NAVY" (this often indicates Trapdoor Arms used as line-throwing rifles to transfer ropes for for transferring men or materiel between ships at sea).

VOLUME-3:

Not one single Trapdoor with a 56000-series Serial Number.

VOLUME-4:

Only one (1) single Trapdoor arm, S/N 56401, a Model 1888 Round Rod-Bayonet Rifle (88R) which is listed as being SPAR 5529 in the SA Museum collection of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site (operated by the Mational Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior in Springfield, Massachusetts).